South Africa’s manufacturing sector confirmed a modest enchancment in October, with the Absa buying managers’ index rising to 49.6 from a revised 48.7 in September. The rise marked a second consecutive month-to-month enchancment, and all 5 elements of the index recorded features. Nevertheless, the studying remained under 50, the extent separating growth from contraction, signaling that manufacturing facility situations had been nonetheless weakening total. Enterprise exercise edged as much as 48.6, whereas the brand new gross sales orders index reached 46.8, indicating continued strain on manufacturing and demand. Absa described the restoration as fragile, citing weak home demand and logistics bottlenecks. Expectations for enterprise situations six months forward additionally weakened, with the related index falling to 51.7 from 55.3. Absa stated sustained demand, stronger manufacturing, and easing value pressures could be wanted for a sturdy restoration.
